Mordekaiser vs Swain
Skill matchup
Build vs Swain
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Mordekaiser: Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Riftmaker, Spirit Visage, Mercury's Treads, Liandry's Torment, Oblivion Orb, Experimental Hexplate, Thornmail.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Swain's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 20s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 5s | 20s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 3s | 19s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 3s | 18s | 12s | 2m |
| 16 | 3s | 16s | 11s | 2m |
| 18 | 3s | 16s | 10s | 2m |
Playing as Mordekaiser
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hit a lone enemy with your Q
Aim Obliterate (Q) at a lone enemy: if only one enemy is hit, the damage increases.
- Activate your passive, then stay close
Hit champions or monsters three times, then stay close: Darkness Rise (passive) then surrounds you with a damage aura and gives you move speed.
- Pull them into your Q
Pull your targets into the Obliterate (Q) zone with Death's Grasp (E): each spell that hits also counts toward Darkness Rise (passive).
- Tank with Indestructible
Cast Indestructible (W) when you're taking damage: it turns stored damage into a shield, and a recast converts part of it into health.
- Isolate the carry in your R
Cast Realm of Death (R) on their carry, or their jungler near an objective: you isolate them with you, steal part of their stats, and keep them if you kill them.
Playing against Swain
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge Nevermove on its return
Get out of the Nevermove (E) path as it comes back: it only roots on its return to Swain, then he can pull each rooted champion to him.
- Leave the area of his eye
Leave the area as soon as Vision of Empire (W) appears: it strikes and slows 1.5 seconds later, and each champion hit gives him a Soul Fragment.
- Keep your distance during his ult
During Demonic Ascension (R), back off and hit from range if you can: he only drains nearby enemies, and his form ends when he stops draining.
- Cut his healing during his ult
If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it during Demonic Ascension (R): the drain heals him every second, and that healing keeps him alive.
Other Mordekaiser matchups
Patch 16.21.1